The third quarter is here. With the Saints rolling to a 24-0 first-half lead and the 49ers showing as much offensive efficiency as a beached whale, it won't take much to close this one out.

Not that I'd tell the players that though. They need to keep up the intensity, if only to prove to themselves and everyone else that they can actually play a complete game. We haven't seen that yet.

So my wireless signal has gone to hell, and I'm sitting here contemplating how to throw a laptop through a window without damaging it. Maybe I could wrap it in a pillow and then go to town on it with a hammer. That would probably make me feel somewhat better, but not much.

A quick recap of the third quarter thus far? How about a couple of nice Saints plays, but no consistency - thus the teams having traded punts ... Bush show explosiveness on that swing pass and had a chance at taking that thing even further. Good read by Brews ... I was just thinking it would take a few turnovers by New Orleans to make this into a game and they obliged, courtesy of a Colston fumble. Uggh.

Will Smith was unblocked and that looked like a golden opportunity, but Alex Smith managed to get the ball off. The Saints could have used a big play there ... No matter, short completion and the 49ers get a field goal. Time to respond, offense. Saints 24, 49ers 3.

My signal still stinks. I think it would be faster using UPS ... Methodical. Methodical wireless signal, and a methodical drive by the Saints. They're moving the ball in small chunks and working some clock. Me likey. Me likey a lot ... No points for New Orleans and a punt, but up 24-3 you've still got to like this team's chances.

Are the announcers making too much of Alex Smith's gimpy shoulder? Maybe, but it would explain his mostly pathetic performance today. At least the kid is a gamer ... The Saints have to be able to stop folks on third-and-long to beat the better teams on the schedule. It's an uphill battle to the playoffs, so smaller plays like that mean that much more.